It’s a growing problem: Commercial web filters rigged for cyber-segregation, installed on public internet connections, and set to selectively block alternative spiritual beliefs. Here are six ways to counter this insidious slide into oppressive discrimination and censorship.

As a quick recap, commercial web filters are often designed to segregate and block sites like this one under an “alternative belief” category, which may be presented negatively and lumped with “adult content” alongside categories like pornography. Filters are used in places like public schools and libraries in ways that could amount to unlawful discrimination – blocking alternative beliefs, yet allowing access to websites about mainstream or traditional religions.

About Matthew Osmund

Matthew Osmund is a freelance writer with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, an open mind and a keen interest in defending personal freedom and uncovering the truth. He's been exploring spirituality and consciousness for 10 years and writes at The Conscious Reporter about issues that affect and suppress human potential, consciousness, alternative beliefs, and the right to free expression of spirituality in the world.

11 comments

Thank you for this article and bringing to light that we are not powerless against such discrimination. The ways of seeking justice are very clearly presented, when in the past they seemed like a confusion to me.

Like Lucia said, in Eastern Europe digital discrimination is not at that level yet (at least I have not seen it yet), but there is plenty of non-digital discrimination, on the basis of religion, wealth, race, sex, etc. And the same methods would be relevant here.

I am happy to share your post with others, and hopefully it will enable people to act.

Thanks Matthew, really useful list of actions there! I think it’s really important for people to take action if they encounter censorship rather than just ignoring it and hoping it will go away. If people take action companies and the people behind censorship will see we’re not just pushovers but are people willing to take action to stand up for our rights and they might think twice about future censorship.

Maybe another way to oppose censorship is to vote with our wallets. If we are using an ISP that is discriminating against alternative spirituality we could move to another provider who opposes censorship, and let the ISP know why we are moving. If enough people do that I think they will take notice!

If people are browsing the web on mobile devices there are also VPNs which can be installed for android and apple products.

That’s a good point David about voting with your wallet when you have a choice of ISPs. I think it would be good to take a stand first with your ISP if it is discriminating against alternative spirituality though, to see if the discrimination can be completely overturned, and so that a precedent can be set that prevents other ISPs doing the same. But if that doesn’t work then boycotting them and going for another one would be a good option.

Although I can see how this may seem like a lot of work (taking the time to research, file a complaint, etc.), there is a lot of benefit in following through with many of the action points suggested in the article (thanks for compiling those!). Better stop it in its tracks than wait until it’s too late…

Thanks Matthew! That was a very helpful article, and as you said, we are not that helpless against this creeping censorship and discrimination taking over our rights. We can actually do something about it.

I really liked the idea of sending the letters to the companies who create these default-filters but it can be hard to make them accountable for it. As i have contacted some companies in the past and never got a response besides a general email thanking me for sending in feedback.

However, if there is a tally somewhere of numbers of letters sent, it can also be used to show their lack of care on the issue if they do not do anything, adding extra weight to the discrimination and censorship taking place and that can help change things.

Our digital rights are as valuable as our physical rights and it is important to preserve as much integrity everywhere.

Thanks for putting together a pro-active list of things that can be done when running into this online censorship/discrimination. It can seem that we are helpless without the proper knowledge of what to do next, who to turn to etc.. But this helps a bunch, great work Matthew!